2025-02-26 14:11:16Ethan groaned as he stirred, the scent of blood still thick in the air.
His body no longer ached. Instead, a strange energy pulsed through him, as if a dam had burst open inside his veins. His fingers curled. The ring on his hand glowed faintly. “What the hell…” A flood of knowledge crashed into his mind—techniques, movements, abilities far beyond his understanding. His breath hitched. It was as if an ancient force had awakened within him. Before he could process it, a snarl echoed through the dimly lit cage. The dogs. Their once-aggressive stance wavered. One by one, they whimpered and backed away, their heads lowering. They’re… bowing? To me?Ethan’s heart pounded. He took a cautious step forward. The strongest of the pack—a monstrous black hound with piercing red eyes—let out a low growl, but it wasn’t threatening. It was submissive. A grin tugged at Ethan’s lips. Whatever had changed within him… it was real. A sharp gust of wind swept through the cage, carrying the distant sound of helicopter blades slicing through the air. Ethan tensed. The doors to the cage burst open. A flood of figures in tactical gear stormed in, their formation precise and ruthless. “Target secured.” Ethan’s gaze snapped to the woman leading them. She moved like a shadow, her icy blue eyes assessing him with an eerie calm. Her long, dark hair was tied in a tight ponytail, and she carried herself with an air of deadly efficiency. She spoke first, her voice cool and sharp. “Ethan Cross.” He squared his shoulders. “Who’s asking?” She didn’t flinch. “ Lara. You need to come with us.” Ethan scoffed. “Yeah? And why would I do that?” Lara stepped closer, her expression unreadable. “Because you are the son of the King of the World.” Silence. Ethan stared at her, waiting for the punchline. When none came, he let out a dry laugh. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Lara didn’t waver. “And yet, you feel it, don’t you? The power awakening within you. Your body no longer weak. The knowledge filling your mind.” Ethan’s jaw clenched. She wasn’t wrong. But this was insane. He crossed his arms. “Let’s say, for a second, that I believe you. Why the hell would my ‘father’ leave me to rot in some orphanage?” Lara’s gaze darkened. “Because he thought you were dead.” Ethan’s breath hitched. “Bullshit.” She remained composed. “He searched for you. For years. Enemies hid you, buried your identity, made sure you would never find your way back.” His mind raced. He had spent his entire life believing he was nothing, that he had no past, no future beyond what he scraped together. Now, this? Ethan exhaled sharply. “And you expect me to just walk away with you?” Lara tilted her head. “You don’t have to believe me. But if you want answers—real answers—this is your chance.” His fingers brushed over the ring. The power inside him surged again, demanding to be acknowledged. He met Lara’s gaze. “Fine. But if this is some elaborate trick—” “It’s not.” She turned, signaling to her team. “Move out.” The soldiers stepped aside, clearing a path. Ethan hesitated for only a second before following them toward the waiting helicopters. As the rotors roared to life, he glanced back at the cage, at the dogs still watching him with reverence. Ethan stepped off the helicopter, the cool night air brushing against his skin. His boots hit the marble floor of a massive estate, the sheer grandeur of it making his stomach twist. Towering pillars framed the entrance, golden chandeliers cast a soft glow over the polished floors, and a sense of absolute authority filled the space. But none of that mattered. Because the man standing before him looked exactly like him. Ethan froze, his heart hammering in his chest. It wasn’t just a resemblance—it was like staring into a mirror, except the man was older, his features sharper, more refined. His piercing golden eyes bore into Ethan, his silver-streaked hair neatly combed back, his stance exuding an aura of dominance that made it impossible to look away. The man smirked. “So, we finally meet.” Ethan’s fingers curled into fists. “Who the hell are you?” The man took a step forward, his gaze never wavering. “I am Magnus Aurelius. Your father.” Ethan let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, right. My father? That’s funny, because my ‘father’ is dead. At least, that’s what I was told.” Magnus studied him, his expression unreadable. “They fed you lies. They took you from me. Buried your identity so deep that even I struggled to find you.” Ethan’s jaw clenched. “And what, you just moved on? Gave up?” Magnus exhaled, his gaze darkening. “I never stopped searching. But by the time I uncovered the truth, they had erased every trace of you.” His voice held an edge of something Ethan couldn’t quite place—regret? Pain? Ethan crossed his arms. “So why now? What changed?” Magnus smiled slightly. “You did.” His eyes flickered to Ethan’s hand, where the ring still faintly glowed. “Your bloodline awakened. That ring—it responded to you. Just like it did to me.” Ethan glanced at the ring, his pulse quickening. He didn’t understand any of this, but he couldn’t deny the shift inside him—the energy, the power. Magnus stepped closer. “You are not just Ethan Cross. You are Ethan Aurelius, my heir. And it’s time for you to take your rightful place.” Ethan scoffed. “Rightful place? As what?” Magnus’s smirk widened. “As the next King of the World.” Silence stretched between them. Ethan searched for any sign of a joke, but Magnus was completely serious. “You expect me to just accept this? To step into whatever empire you’ve built?” Ethan asked, voice sharp. Magnus didn’t hesitate. “Yes. And your first task is to take control of Group A.” He gestured toward Lara, who stood quietly nearby. “She will assist you as the CEO. But from this moment on, you are the owner.” Ethan’s mind struggled to catch up with what he had just heard. Magnus spoke as if he were handing over a mere department, but Aurelius Group was no ordinary company. It was a powerhouse, a titan in the business world—one of the most influential corporations in the country. Even top elites fought tooth and nail to gain its favor, yet Magnus was handing it to him like it was nothing more than a formality. And despite its staggering influence, Aurelius Group was still just a subsidiary of the Aurelius Imperium Conglomerate—a mere fraction of the empire Magnus controlled. The weight of it settled on Ethan’s shoulders, but beneath the disbelief, something else flickered—power, responsibility, and the knowledge that from this moment forward, everything had changed. However, his brows furrowed. “I don’t know the first thing about running a business.” Magnus smirked. “You don’t have to. Not yet. You’ll learn. Observe. You have the instincts, Ethan. It’s in your blood.” Ethan swallowed hard. Every part of him screamed that this was insane. But deep down, something stirred—a sense of belonging he had never felt before. Magnus reached into his pocket and tossed something at him. Instinctively, Ethan caught it. A sleek, jet-black card. "There’s no limit,” Magnus said smoothly. “Use it however you see fit.” Ethan stared at the card, his mind spinning. Magnus placed a firm hand on his shoulder. “The world is yours to take, Ethan. The only question is… will you?”
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Ethan Cross sat in the grand study, his fingers tracing the smooth edge of the black card his father had given him. The weight of Magnus Aurelius’s words still pressed heavily on his mind. “The world is yours to take, Ethan.” "Ethan," Magnus said, leaning forward in his leather chair, "I need you to prepare for the Aurelius Group anniversary tomorrow." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Me, Father?" Magnus's eyes gleamed with purpose. "Yes, to step up as my heir and take over as CEO —the official announcement will happen at the event." Though he was nervous, he confidently nodded his head. Magnus had no doubt that Ethan would accept. After everything he had endured at the hands of others, Magnus knew he would want to prove them wrong. Ethan let out a slow breath, pushing down the storm inside him. This wasn’t just about stepping into a powerful position. This was about proving something—to himself, to those who had abandoned him, and to the people who thought he was nothing mor
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Yvonne giggled, tilting her head. “He's just like a housefly buzzing around a feast, thinking it belongs to the table.” Ethan chuckled, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Funny. But remind me—when has a housefly ever walked away from the table uncrushed?” Blanche turned to the clerk with a huff. “You see how disrespectful he is? And you’re still considering letting him take the herb?” The clerk, desperate to please her, nodded quickly. “Yes, Madam. This establishment values its esteemed clientele above all." The clerk shifted his gaze to Ethan. "Sir, please be reasonable. You wouldn’t want to cause trouble, would you?” Ethan inhaled deeply,clenching his jaw. So that’s how it is? Just because these two draped themselves in gold and reeked of self-importance, they expected the world to bend to their will. He leveled the clerk with a cold stare. “First come, first served. That’s how business works. Or do you just make up the rules as you go?” Blanche rolled her eyes. . “O
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Five
The room was thick with silence. Lara’s cold gaze locked onto Manager Hensley, her fingers twitching at her sides. Then— SMACK! The crisp sound of her palm meeting his cheek echoed through the store. Hensley staggered, clutching his face, eyes wide with pure disbelief. Blanche and Yvonne gasped audibly. The clerk nearly dropped to his knees. Ethan? He just smirked. Hensley, still dazed, scrambled to recover. His mind worked at lightning speed, and suddenly, a brilliant conclusion formed in his head—this man, this pathetic errand boy, must be Lara’s personal servant! He immediately bowed. “Madam Lara! I—I had no idea your assistant was here to collect something on your behalf! Please forgive my ignorance!” Lara’s lips twitched in irritation. “My assistant?" Hensley nodded rapidly, sweat forming at his temples. "Yes, of course! A noblewoman like you wouldn’t waste time buying things yourself! This lowly servant should’ve spoken up sooner!” Ethan’s smirk deepe
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Six
Vanessa sat at her sleek vanity, her fingers drumming against the polished surface as she listened to her mother’s indignant huffing on the other end of the line. “You should have seen it, darling,” Blanche seethed. "That filthy stray acted like he was somebody important! If I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it!” Vanessa’s eyes remained cold as she adjusted her earrings. “That doesn’t matter,” Vanessa said flatly. “Tomorrow, at Aurelius Group's anniversary celebration, I’ll be attending with Damian. That's what matters for now. I’ll make sure he gets a proper lesson afterwards." Blanche gasped, excitement immediately replacing her anger. “Oh, you’re going with Damian?” Vanessa smirked slightly. “Yes. And trust me, Damian won’t let Ethan continue to act out. He’ll remind that stray dog of his place.” Yvonne practically squealed. “Oh, this is perfect! He’s just pretending to be rich. I can't wait to see how Damian will get him utterly humiliated!”
Cheated & Despised, now the Billionaire Heir Chapter Seven
Ethan finally stopped, turning his gaze to see Vanessa and Damian standing just a few steps away. Vanessa was draped in an elegant designer dress, her arms crossed, her lips curled in amusement. Damian, dressed in an expensive tailored suit, had one hand tucked in his pocket while the other was casually slung over Vanessa’s waist. Damian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Unbelievable. I thought we left the stray dog in the dirt, but here he is, wagging his tail again.” Vanessa tilted her head. “Maybe he’s here to beg?” She smirked. “How pathetic.” Ethan remained calm, his hands resting inside his pockets. Damian let out a mock sigh. "You do realize where you are, don’t you? This isn’t a place for people like you.” He adjusted his cufflinks before giving Ethan a disdainful look. "Unlike you, I actually belong here.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?” Damian’s smirk widened. "That’s right.” He puffed his chest out. “I was personally invited to Aurelius
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Ethan stood in the gleaming lobby of Aurelius Group’s headquarters, every nerve in his body thrumming with energy. The guard he’d slapped away was sprawled several feet back, groaning in pain. Nearby, Damian and Vanessa looked on with a mixture of shock and smug triumph, as if believing that, any second now, Ethan would be dragged out in disgrace.A small crowd of onlookers, many of them lower-level employees or visitors to Aurelius Group, began to gather around.Their hushed murmurs and curious glances only amplified the tension in the air.The fallen guard struggled to his feet, his voice hoarse with anger.“He… he attacked me! This guy’s got a fake black card, and he’s causing trouble!"Ethan merely rolled his shoulders, refusing to rise to the provocation. He couldn’t help but notice Vanessa’s derisive smirk and the condescending tilt of Damian’s head as they both seemed to savor the spectacle.“Fake card, huh?” Ethan said softly, holding the sleek, jet-black piece of plastic b
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One guard stepped forward, placing a meaty hand on Ethan’s shoulder. "Let’s go.”Before Ethan could shake the hand off, a sharp voice cut through the tense silence. "What in the name of all that’s holy is going on here?”All eyes turned toward a tall, older gentleman in a distinguished gray suit striding purposefully across the lobby. His posture radiated authority, and a faint badge on his lapel indicated a high-ranked position within Aurelius Group.The manager stiffened instantly, turning to face the newcomer. "S-Sir Chandler! I, uh, we have a situation with a trespasser.”Sir Chandler—clearly the manager’s superior—shot a quick glance at the group of guards, at Damian and Vanessa, then locked his gaze on Ethan. "A trespasser, you say?”Damian opened his mouth to speak, but Sir Chandler ignored him, directing his attention to the manager’s hands, which still clutched the clipboard. "Give me a proper explanation, or I’ll start demoting people on the spot.”The manager swallowed har
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Vanessa’s and Damien’s mouths fell open in shock at the sight before them— Sir Chandler, apologizing to Ethan. Damien ignored Sir Chandler’s warnings and sneered. “Are you seriously apologizing to this worthless bastard?” He let out a scoff, his brows drawing together in disbelief. “Or wait… are you two in on this together?” His lips curled in disgust as he gestured at Ethan. “Did you set this up? Is this your doing?” Straightening his suit, he gave Sir Chandler a look of pure disdain. “Don’t worry, once the chairman signs that document, this will be your last day here. Scum like you, who will always be filth no matter where you go, don’t belong in a place like this. I’ll personally make sure you crawl back to the gutter where you came from—” The manager stepped closer to Damian and whispered something in his ear. "You clearly don't know who he is, Mr. Damiab. I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut—" "Or what?!" Damian snapped at the manager, his face twisted in fury. Van
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Chapter 101
***FLASHBACK******Fifteen months earlier—before the bone marrow transplant***The rain poured down in heavy sheets as Ethan pulled his thin delivery jacket tighter around his shoulders, the cheap plastic bag containing clutched against his chest to keep it dry. The electric scooter he used for deliveries had broken down three blocks back, and he'd had no choice but to continue on foot.His shoes squelched with every step, his socks soaked through. But he kept moving. This was his last delivery for the night. After that, he’d head back to his tiny apartment, count the few money he’d made, and stress over how he was going to cover even a small part of Vanessa’s hospital bills. She’d been stuck there for weeks, going through endless tests after they found out she needed a bone marrow transplant.He saw her as his girlfriend—his responsibility—even though her parents could easily afford everything."2487 Oakridge Drive," he muttered to himself, checking his phone again. The address
Chapter 100
Ethan chuckled. "Mercy? As how?""Ever since the scandal, the stock of my company has been in freefall," Mr. Hayes explained, words tumbling out faster now. "Crisis has been happening behind the scenes that the public doesn't know about yet. It's only a matter of time before everyone realizes we're worth nothing."He ran a trembling hand over his face. "I've spent every remaining resource and penny the family has to try to make the charges against the company go away. Just disowning Damian wasn't enough. And to make things worse, investors have been pulling out one by one, and the board of directors is losing trust and hope in my leadership."His voice cracked. "Only Chairman Aurelius can help me and my family now because I know he has the resources, influences, and power to make it happen.""And since you’re obviously close to him, maybe you could get him to help me and forget what my stupid, estranged son did with his greedy attitude."Ethan let the silence linger, watching the des
Chapter Ninety-nine
Ethan tilted his head slightly, his expression shifting to one of innocent confusion—a perfect mask that hid the satisfaction bubbling underneath."Why are you on your knees again, Mr. Hayes? Please, there's no need for that anymore."Mr. Hayes remained where he was, his hands clasped together as if in prayer. His voice trembled with desperate sincerity. "It's because my family and I need your forgiveness and mercy. We need it desperately."Ethan's eyebrows rose slightly, his performance flawless. "Forgiveness? Mercy? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.""Please," Mr. Hayes continued, his eyes never leaving Ethan's face. "I had no idea until today about the connection between my son and you. I swear it.”"Please, on behalf of my family, forgive us. Please."A smirk played on Ethan's lips as he tilted his head thoughtfully. "Your son?" He paused, as if something had just occurred to him. "Oh, you mean Damian? Your ex-son, the one you've now disowned?"Mr. Hayes nodded
Chapter Ninety-eight
Seated across from each other in leather chairs in the living room, Mr. Hayes couldn’t contain himself any longer; his words tumbled out like water breaking through a dam.“Ethan, seriously, thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me that you actually want to listen when Chairman—”Ethan laughed. “Come on, don’t even start. Honestly, I should be the one apologizing for the way those idiots treated you. It was embarrassing.”Mr. Hayes shook his head. "No.""They were just doing their job. No need to apologize.”Ethan watched the Mr. Hayes with a relaxed smile, enjoying the desperation that seemed to pour from every pore. "So, about—""Before we get to business, Mr. Hayes..." Ethan cut in. "What would you like to drink? We have an excellent scotch that I think you'd appreciate. Or perhaps something softer?"Mr. Hayes shook his head, his eyes darting nervously. "No, no, I don't need anything. Please, I just want to discuss the situation. Time is running out for me."Ethan's sm
Chapter Ninety-seven
The sound of commotion broke through the peaceful night at the Aurelius castle as angry voices and desperate pleas bounced off the high walls and slipped through the slightly open window of Ethan's bedroom.After all of Magnus’ begging and pressure because he was scared there might be another attack and that the ring might not protect Ethan next time, Ethan finally agreed to stay in the castle until he was crowned King of the World. Magnus had even begged him to stay inside the castle the whole time until then."Please! I need to see him! It's a matter of life and death!""Sir, we have strict orders from Chairman Aurelius. You need to leave now!""You don't understand! I need to see him... Please!"Ethan looked up from his phone, eyebrows lifting with mild interest because the desperate voice sounded oddly familiar. He put his phone down on the bedside table and walked to the window, peering out to catch a glimpse of the scene unfolding at the front gate.Two security guards in bla
Chapter Ninety-six
Later in the day, as Vanessa and her family were still celebrating, a sudden news report interrupted the air.“Breaking news,” the anchor’s voice was grim, grabbing everyone’s attention."New evidence has emerged in the Callum Construction scandal, directly implicating Jonathan Callum and his daughter, Vanessa Callum, along with other executives, in what authorities are now calling one of the largest fraud schemes in the city’s history.”Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat, and so did the rest of her family’s.Then, the screen flickered to show emails—dozens of them—between Jonathan and other directors, discussing ways to cut costs by using cheap materials and bribing inspectors. Then came documents with their signatures at the bottom.“What?!” The words escaped their mouths in unison, their faces paling.The anchor continued, “These emails and documents, provided to us by senior vice president Richard Callum, directly contradict Ms. Callum’s statements from the media briefing earlier, whe
Chapter Ninety-five
"I know you're aware that the evidence used against James Harry and the other supervisors is false," Ethan revealed, his voice surprisingly calm. "Vanessa and her father used it to throw them under the bus and save themselves, isn't it?"Richard's eyes widened. He glanced over his shoulder, then scanned the coffee shop as if looking for hidden cameras or eavesdroppers. When he turned back to Ethan, his face had lost all its arrogance."How do you know about that?" Richard whispered, leaning closer. "That information isn't public. Nobody outside the inner circle knows what really happened."Ethan chuckled. "Have you already forgotten what I told you about the Copper Group deal? You can say I'm... well-informed." He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "I have my ways of knowing things people think are hidden.""What are you, some kind of hacker?" Richard asked, his eyes narrowing."Does it matter?" Ethan shrugged. "Do I have your undivided attention now?"Richard shifted in h
Chapter Ninety-four
Richard rushed back to the table, nearly knocking over his chair. His composure had been replaced by wide eyes and a pale face because he knew that if the words got out, he would be doomed."How do you know about that?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me right now!"Ethan said nothing, just calmly took another sip of his coffee.The silence stretched between them until Richard couldn’t take it anymore. He decided to mask his panic and fear by intimidating Ethan, convinced that people like Ethan always give in eventually, no matter their initial arrogance and boldness."It was Lara, wasn't it?" Richard chuckled."Though I can't understand how she found out..." He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up. "I can’t believe she was so blinded by love that she actually told you something like that,” he said, narrowing his eyes at Ethan and leaning forward. "Now, tell me—what do you want from me? Why are you saying this to my face?”Ethan just stared back at him,
Chapter Ninety-three
The coffee shop buzzed with afternoon chatter. Lara had picked the place, and Ethan was fine with it because it was nice and quiet.He sat at a corner table, watching the door through the steam of his untouched coffee.Right on time, a tall man with perfectly styled dark hair walked in. The man was Richard who Ethan had being waiting for. Richard wore an expensive navy suit that looked custom-made, with a silk tie and polished leather shoes.The moment Ethan lifted his hand and waved, Richard’s eyes immediately narrowed. At first, he ignored Ethan, continuing to glance around the place, hoping maybe Lara was just running late. But after a while, when it was clear no one else was coming, he gave a frustrated sigh and stomped over to the table where Ethan sat.Ethan stood up as Richard approached, flashing a big smile.“Mr. Callum,” Ethan said, reaching out for a handshake.Richard stopped, towering over the table without bothering to sit down. His eyes dropped to Ethan’s outstretc
